# Accident 20201128021579A: Aerostar International Inc RX 8, St. George, UT, November 28, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 2020, 17:00 local time
- Place: St. George, UT
- Airport: St George Regional
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0729° N, 113.5205° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0729&lon=-113.5205&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9051Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9051Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerostar International RX 8 (registry code 7487008, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC RX 8
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 102 total, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA155) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201128021579A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE LOCATION WAS NOT ON THE AIRPORT BUT TOOK PLACE IN THE TOWN OF ST GEORGE, UTAH.

ON NOVEMBER 28, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 MST THE BALLOON PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A PERSONAL FLIGHT AND LANDED TO AN AREA THAT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO DEFLATION.  THE PILOT AGAIN LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND THE GROUND CREW ASSISTED BY GUIDING THE BALLOON TO A MORE SUITABLE AREA VIA A DROP LINE.

AFTER LANDING AT THE NEW LOCATION, AND UNBEKNOWNST TO THE PILOT IN COMMAND, ONE OF THE GROUND CREW MEMBERS STARTED TO PUT THE DROP LINE BACK IN ITS BAG WITHOUT BEING ASKED.  DURING THIS TIME, THE BALLOON INADVERTENTLY LIFTED OFF THE GROUND.  IN THE PROCESS OF LIFTING OFF, THIS GROUND CREW'S GLOVED HANDS BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE DROP LINE AND WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND.

THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE RED LINE TO STOP THE BALLOON?S ASSENT BUT IT STILL REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 15 TO 35 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.  NEAR THIS ALTITUDE, THE ENTANGLED GROUND CREW MEMBER FELL TO THE GROUND AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT INCLUDED A SHATTERED L2 VERTEBRAE, BRUISES IN SEVERAL AREAS, AND A BLACK EYE.

AN EMT/FIREFIGHTER WAS ON SCENE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED.  SURGERY WAS PERFORMED AND PHYSICAL THERAPY IS ONGOING.

THE BALLOON DID NOT RECEIVE ANY DAMAGES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR21LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA155), Nov 29, 2020: Aerostar International RX 8 (N9051Y), St. George, UT, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon and a member of the ground crews entanglement with a tether rope, which resulted in a serious injury when they fell to the ground after the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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